Rugby World Cup: Billy Vunipola did not know bonus points counted

Two-try hero Mike Brown may be certain of his place in England’s next World Cup match but coach Stuart Lancaster could do with a few changes for the clash with Wales.

The respite was temporary though as Nemani Nadolo scored moments later, when the giant wing clung on to Ben Volavola’s crossfield kick.

And he inspires the team because he plays with such courage pace and power and lifted the team in the second half by the scruff of the neck’.

“But if they’re playing that fairly conservative game, he’s a good guy to just get it through, get it over the advantage line and get that pass away to keep the momentum going”.

“The key messages are to play in the right areas of the field, trust the game will come to us and be more direct. We were too lateral in the first half and the players realised that”.

Fiji scored a try in the 28th minute, but an on screen replay in the stadium showed the player dropped it. A chorus of boos from the English fans and the referee decided to go to the TMO and between them decided no try.

England score their first penalty try against Fiji on Friday night in their Rugby World Cup opening victory at Twickenham.

However, Brown’s running ensured England made the winning start they wanted so desperately in front of a demanding 82,000 crowd who want a repeat of their 2003 World Cup triumph.

Mike Brown of England evades two Fiji defenders during England’s Pool A opener against Fiji.

“They certainly made us work hard for it”, said Lancaster.

England have said: This is what we’ve done, we’ve got our tries and our bonus point, the pressure is now on Wales and Australia.

It was by no means plain sailing for the tournament hosts as Fiji defended strongly and carried a threat but England will be delighted to have claimed the extra point that could prove vital in a tough Pool A also containing Australia and Wales. Nothing special about that return, but he has scored them all since the turn of 2014 – after a stuttering England career that started in 2007 but which saw the 30-year-old miss out on the last World Cup four years ago.

Brown crossed for his second in the corner after great offload work from substitute Owen Farrell and Jonny May before Billy Vunipola forced the ball just onto the edge of the whitewash from close range.

England resume their campaign against Wales, who face Uruguay on Sunday, at Twickenham in six days’ time.

England captain Chris Robshaw was equally relieved.